His Holiness Karekin II Receives Newly Appointed Ambassador of France
On January 31, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received Mr. Henry Kuny, the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to the Republic of Armenia.
Welcoming the first visit of the Ambassador to the spiritual center of the Armenians, His Holiness mentioned with satisfaction, the warm and brotherly relations existing between the countries for centuries. Additionally, His Holiness stated that the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has warm feelings toward France and was ready to strengthen the relations established between the two nations.
His Holiness cordially referred to his pontifical visit to France in December of 2001, which served as a new occasion for the development of fraternal relations. His Holiness spoke with gratitude about the Order of the Commander of the Legion of Honor, awarded to him by the President of France, and considered the award as high recognition of the Armenian community of France.
Thanking His Holiness for the reception, Mr. Kuny noted that his visit to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, in addition to being a visit of protocol, was of great significance for him personally. The Ambassador appreciated the Armenian nation's striving for progress, noting that it was manifested many centuries ago, when the Armenian nation made its choice to adopt Christianity. Being a great admirer of art and literature, Mr. Kuny noted that the Armenian nation's official adoption of Christianity had fostered its spiritual progress and development by means of creating the Armenian alphabet, literature and architecture.
At the conclusion of the meeting, His Holiness gave his blessings to the newly appointed Ambassador, expressing confidence that Mr. Kuny would continue the work of his predecessors in Armenia with the same zeal.
